VOLUNTEERS CULTURE_ Karen Mahlab, founder and director of opportunity tofulfil an area of your jobyou’re passionateabout but aren’t being offered professionally. See it as an Pro Bono Australia, runs a similar online resource called VolunteerMatch. Knowing how vital skilled volunteers are to the community sector, Mahlab saw a need for a specialised service that would help to bring professional skills – particularly financial, IT, legal and marketing expertise – into NFP organisations on a voluntary basis. “I think thatmore and more people are discovering that it’s possible to use their professional skills to directly impact an organisation and are choosing to do that,” she says. “They feel that it’s their time and knowledge that can have the biggest impact.” FEEL THE LOVE But before you sign up for a volunteering role with the first charity you come across, experienced volunteer Lynora Brooke advises, “It’s really important to find a good fit, to find a charity or organisation to give your time to that you actually feel passionate about and have some connection with.” Brooke, principal of Sydney-based firm redefinity, which specialises in facilitation and mediation as well as executive and conflict coaching, most recently gave her time and skills to the Quest For Life Foundation, a connection fostered by goodcompany. “Likewise, if you really can’t stand a particular aspect of your day job, then it’s not wise to volunteer in such a way that will mean spending even more time doing it.” That’s not to say volunteering can’t open up avenues where your current paid position might be lacking. “Definitely,” says Brooke. “See it as an opportunity to fulfil some area of your job or profession that you’re passionate about but aren’t being offered professionally. “People are very time-poor these days, so to volunteer, you’remaking a very conscious choice about where part of your time will be spent. Donating money is certainly a wonderful thing to do, but there’s something very personally rewarding about donating your time and your skills. “I think we all want to make a difference,” Brooke concludes. “If I can actually get a taste of the difference I’m making, to me it’s like finding part of the answer to that bigger question of what life is all about.” 060 VIRGINBLUE ?